Integrator Forum gears up for 2000

Get your sun cream out, we're off to Monte Carlo

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System builders attending this year's Integrator Forum will get more of a chance to air their views than at the previous two events, according to the show's MD, Dimitri Granovsky. Speaking to The Register, Granovsky said he had made a point of listening to what delegates had to say after last year's show and making adjustments to the format. One new feature will be a debate session lasting an hour and half, chaired by PC Europa's Max Hotopf, focussing solely on the key issues facing the system builder industry. Keith Warburton of the Personal Computer Association will also be on hand. Granovsky said: "We listened to our critics and we are tailoring the event to meet delegates' needs more closely. There will be more time for meetings and more in-depth discussion groups." This is the third year for the Integrator Forum, and it will run from 17 to 20 May at Le Meridien Beach Plaza hotel, Monte Carlo -- the same venue as last time. "We are sticking with this venue because we want the whole event to become a landmark in people's diaries. Plus it's a great location. We want people to be able to have fun and do some business at the same time." Some of topics scheduled to be covered during the Forum will be, the evolution of the PC, comms technology, voice recognition, finance and the ubiquitous Linux. In its first year Integrator Forum attracted 125 system builders and around 30 vendors. Last year those figures stood at 175 system builders and 54 vendors. This year the show's organisers expect more than 200 system builders and at least 60 vendors to be in attendance. Granovsky said there was still a bright future for PC assemblers but that they would have to be ready to adapt to survive. "The PC isn't dead -- far from it. But it is changing rapidly. Designs and shapes are likely to change and this means system builders must invest and reorganise to meet customers' changing wants." ® More information on Integrator Forum 2000 is available here. Related StoryIntegrator Forum wins SB thumbs-up